Very few elite athletes can set a national record, but Strymar Livingston of
Columbus (Bronx, N.Y.) has established two national indoor track records already this season.
The 6-foot-2, 170-pound senior middle-distance runner set a 500-meter run record of 1 minute, 1.68 seconds during the New Balance Games at the Armory in New York City. The previous record of 1:02.4 by Mike Greene had stood since 1984.
Strymar Livingston
Photo courtesy of Ana Tavarez
He also broke his own record in the 600 run with a 1:17.58 effort during the New Balance Collegiate meet at the Armory. His previous record was 1:17.64.
The Armory, in fact, has become his home away from home, because he also practices there two days a week in addition to running in many meets.
Coach Steve Bonica told MaxPreps, "When he's in the Armory, everybody knows who he is. Everybody comes over and wants to shake his hand. He's such a likeable guy. He does get a lot of recognition, but he doesn't let it go to his head. He's rather humble about it."
The talented Livingston accepts his records rather matter-of-factly, but can't place one above the other..
He said, "Both mean something (special) to me. Every reporter asks me how does it feel. It feels normal."
He set his first national record in the 600 as a junior.
"I felt excited," he recalled. "I felt I had accomplished everything, but I wasn't finished. I worked hard in practice and it just paid off."
Then he set the 500 record this year in his fourth indoor meet.
"That was a really big goal, because I was practicing really hard," he said. "The coach had wanted me to go one minute."
Bonica admitted, "I don't know if we expected him to win by such a large margin. It was more of a relief than a celebration after the race. Everything went perfect. He executed a perfect race plan and it worked."
Two weeks later he lowered his own 600 record.
His records are even more amazing when his background is examined. He came out for track as a freshman only at the invitation of a friend.
"It was a lot of struggle," he confessed. "But I got to like it and stayed with it."
Bonica believes that his star still hasn't tapped his potential.
"His real running career will blossom after high school," he predicted. "I just want him to make it through the rest of his high school career healthy. I've seen a lot of burnouts. The biggest challenge for him in terms of training is to keep the reins on him. Training smarter makes you faster. We'd love to see him get under 1:50 outdoors (in the 800) this year. That really sets someone apart from everybody else."
Livingston said recently that his final three college choices are Baylor, Texas A&M and Mississippi State.
